Elyse Glynn celebrated her 18th birthday with a success on Day2 when Radev and the Czechs impressed

Fifty-six preliminary contests were held in the second competition day at the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships in the Sofia Sports Hall today. Bulgaria’s favourite Yasen Radev started strongly at the male flyweight (52kg) on Day2 when England’s Elise Glynn celebrated her 18^thbirthday with a clear success. Czech Republic never started so strongly the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships as in Sofia with six-in-a-row triumphs.

The following 37 nations and 339 boxers are taking part in the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

Bout of the day

Bulgaria’s Yasen Radev is two-time silver medallist from the EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships who joined to the youth age group this January. The 17-year-old Bulgarian remained at the flyweight (52kg) and named as one of the gold medal contenders in Sofia. Radev opened his campaign against Denmark’s Daniel Malik who won a few international tournaments as youth and junior. The smaller Bulgarian reduced the fighting distance successfully in the first round but the Danish also responded to his attacks. Radev had a hard job as first but finally he won the bout unanimously delighting the home crowd in Sofia.

Surprise of the day

Hungary’s EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Levente Kiss injured in the beginning of the year but recovered on May in time to prepare well to the Sofia event. The Hungarian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer was a favourite for a medal in the Bulgarian capital but he was not able to reduce the height and weight disadvantage against Germany’s Turpal-Ali Hutaev. The German boxer arrived with only a few number of contests but he controlled the first and second rounds in Sofia and in spite of his difficulties in the third, he advanced to the quarter-finals. Hutaev won the Brandenburg Youth Cup this year but his success over the Hungarian was a surprise on Day2.

The Round-Up

Croatia’s youth No.1 Gabrijel Veocic claimed silver medal at the 2017 EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships and arrived to Sofia as one of the favourites at the men’s middleweight (75kg). The 18-year-old Croatian has strong experiences from previous events but he had to meet with a technician boxer, England’s Daniel Toward. The Croatian boxer was confident from the first seconds and he landed tough jabs producing a strong opening round. Veocic had a competitive rival as first but he managed to win the bout using his international experiences.

The middleweight (75kg) saw strong contests in the second competition day of the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships. Wales’ Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament winner Taylor Bevan performed strongly against Turkey’s Aykutsun Kaan and advanced to the next preliminary stage. Slovakia’s best youth boxer, AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships competitor Lukas Ferneza worked hard from the first seconds until the last gong and eliminated Finland’s Anton Embulajev.

Greece’s Dimitrios Vordonarakis and Hungary’s David Koczian both competed in previous EUBC Championships and the two youngsters produced a spectacular battle in Sofia. The Hungarian, who competed in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships one year ago, started better and landed effective jabs in a high intensity bout. The referee had to count the Greek in the middle of the second round but Vordonarakis did not give up the fight and returned to the contest in time. The 18-year-old Greek produced a fantastic last round and turned back the fight which was one of the most hectic ones on Day2.

Netherlands’ Gradus Kraus claimed medals in the preparation tournaments and before the start of the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships, he moved up to the middleweight (75kg). The 18-year-old Dutch boxer is one of the secret medal contenders in Sofia who showed confident performance as first against Romania’s Robert Stefan Sefer. Kraus was taller than his younger Romanian opponent but he moved forward and dominated all of the rounds during his superb debut in Sofia.

Finland arrived with record number of 11 boxers to the EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships, among them seven male talents. Nikita Nystedt is one of the most experienced in the team with several international contests in the background. Finland’s light heavyweight (81kg) hope started better than Poland’s Damian Zawieruszynski and took the lead on the scorecards. Nystedt landed more punches also in the second and in spite of the Polish boxer’s excellent comeback in the third, he was able to advance to the next round.

Russia’s Aleksei Dronov is the defending Youth Olympic Champion, AIBA Youth World Champion and EUBC European Youth Champion at the super heavyweight (+91kg). The 18-year-old Russian is the super favourite of the category once again and he looked confident from the first seconds against Ukraine’s Vasyl Tkachuk. Dronov landed seriously tough jabs in the second round which shocked the Ukrainian boxer and those actions determined the third as well. Dronov delivered a strong performance while one of his top rivals Italy’s Vincenzo Fiaschetti also proved his best against Azerbaijan’s Fuad Jafarov.

Czech Republic has done amazing successes in the opening two competition days in Sofia. Six of their boxers won their opening contests who made the country proud in this EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships. Their Dominik Gloser was too smart for Switzerland’s Capar Korcan at the middleweight (75kg) before Maxim Schejbal defeated Belarus’ Ivan Pravilau at the light heavyweight (81kg). Their female hope Lenka Bernardova also eliminated her opponent, Ukraine’s Oksana Yaremyna on Day2.

England’s Elise Glynn celebrated her 18^thbirthday with a success over France’s Sthelyne Grosy at the women’s featherweight (57kg) in a bout where she proved her gold medal in the second competition day. England’s next star Youth Olympic Games winner, AIBA Youth World Champion and EUBC European Youth Champion Caroline Dubois, who never lost any contests yet, had to meet with a dangerous rival as first, Finland’s Vilma Viitanen. The English lightweight (60kg) boxer was too strong for Finland’s best female hope today and followed Glynn to the last eight.

Russia’s Dmitriy Naimov is the new Youth National Champion in his country in spite of the fact he will be turning to 17 only later this year. The Russian light flyweight (49kg) boxer met as first with Ukraine’s Pavlo Pavlov and impressed with his speed already in the first round. The younger Russian launched quick attacks without any stoppage and his hard work decided their contest in Sofia. Besides to the Russian, England’s William Hewitt also delivered superb performance and overwhelmed Azerbaijan’s Ruslan Gadirov.